Iowa’s impact along RAGBRAI route
As RAGBRAI riders travel across Iowa, from the Missouri to the Mississippi, it’s common for them to see plenty of black and gold. Hawkeye pride often takes center stage, whether displayed on the gear of cyclists or adorned on homes and vehicles along the route.
The University of Iowa’s holistic impact on the communities along the route—which spans Council Bluffs to Keokuk this year—isn’t always made obvious by visual cues or color schemes. But what is known is that Iowa alumni are creating a positive social and economic impact within these towns and across the state.
While the students stay on campus only for a short period, the influence they have back in their communities lasts a lifetime. These are the doctors, nurses, librarians, lawyers, pharmacists, and much more that you interact with every day.
Here is a breakdown of the “Hometown Hawkeyes” utilizing their education and experience in the eight counties that have overnight stops for RAGBRAI 2019:
Iowa has myriad health care connections throughout the state as well. University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics serves thousands of Iowans from near and far. The State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa identifies infants at risk for more than 50 inherited conditions, while also monitoring water, air, soil, and food for contaminants of public health concern.
Here’s a yearly snapshot of numbers from the eight counties hosting 2019 RAGBRAI riders:
The eight counties hosting RAGBRAI riders comprise a small sample of the University of Iowa’s impact on the state. You can see the numbers for your home county or any of the state’s 99 counties by visiting the Office of Outreach and Engagement’s website.
